The boa constrictor (Boa constrictor) also known as the red-tailed boa or common boa, is a species of large, non-venomous, heavy-bodied constrictor snake that is frequently kept and bred in captivity. The boa constrictor is a member of the family Boidae, found in tropical North, Central, and South America, as well as some islands in the Caribbean. A staple of private collections and public displays, its color pattern is highly variable yet distinctive. 9 subspecies are currently recognized, although some of these are controversial.
They are very good hunters and will eat a wide variety of prey such as lizards, rodents, opossums, birds, frogs, bats, small monkeys, smaller boas, and even bigger animals like coatis, sloths, and young wild cats. They bite the prey with backwards facing teeth, and once latched on, wrap their muscular body around the prey until they suffocate them. Snakes can't chew, so boas have to eat their prey whole.